Muzaffarpur: The mystery disease in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district continues to claim more lives with the death toll now touching 44. Over the last 10 days, over 40 children have died due to this unknown virus.

The National Institute of Virology which is investigating the case has now ruled out encephalitis which it earlier suspected to be the disease. The symptoms though are similar in both cases.

The team will now take brain tissue samples to conduct further tests and identify the virus.

The only hurdle they faced was permission from the state health department, which has now been granted. Meanwhile, the medical team fears that there could be more unreported cases.